Jade

Date: 23-27 Dec 03

The trip to Taiwan was accompanied by my sister and 2 of our Uni friends. We decided to reach Taiwan on 24th Dec 03 so as to celebrate Xmas. Thereafter, our 2004 New Year will spend at Hong Kong. The ticket we purchased allow us to transit at Hong Kong.

It was Winter period when we touched down at CKS International Airport. Our stay was at a friend’s house. THis saves us our accomodation cost. The service apartment is spacious and is at a centralised location.

As usual, the iternary is planned by my sister. Our friends were impressed by her iternary as all the places of interests that we wanted to go was properly planned; with detail navigation e.g. Type of transport to take, schedule timing of the transport, charges and etc.

Places of interests and shopping that we have explored:

1. Shilin Hot Spring (Took MRT)

2. Dan Shui - Selling Clothing and food etc. (Took MRT)

3. Shilin - Hot Spring (Took MTR)

4. Jiu Fen (Took MRT)

5. Shilin Night Market - Street Market & Food Stand.

6. Rao He Street Night Market - Small & Nothing much as compare to Shilin.

7. Wu Feng Pu Street - Selling big bulk clothing mainly for wholesaler.

8. Tapei World Trade - 101 Towers & Shopping.

To view more pictures, feel free to take at look at my Photo Albums

People always consider themselves to be the most advanced in intelligence and ability to manage their environment. This is derived in part from the Biblical creation story in which Adam is explicitly given dominion over the Earth and all of its creatures.

Sorrow & Happiness

Often believed that "Only sufferings can teach one to respect the goodness and the wonders of Life". However, real sorrow doesn’t exist and neither do real joy. But often, sorrow will always be deeply remember than real happiness as one who can hold the defeat would feel true happiness or may be Selfcontrol is the key to all progress and happiness if you are able to attain to it. But not for me as pride is the beginning of destruction. Despite patience is the base of happiness, accuracy is the base of success, economy is the base of riches, I would often ask "Do people (or Me) follow that?" But I do learn and reflect that one man’s fault is another man’s lesson.

Angry & Joy

A mild answer always turns away rage, a painful word makes anger to come up. Sometimes, I would rather be like a wide ocean for everything that can be accepted. Discontent is actually the first step in progress but do not take the example of another as an excuse for your wrong doing.

Promises

TO BE CONTINUED……………………………………

• Practising giving increases fortune.
• Setting lives free begets longetivity.
• One good thought transports us to Heaven.
• One evil thought delivers us into Hell.
• Case and Effect is just and fair.
• Like Yin and Yang complementing each other.
• In our Saha world there are jails;
• In the Nether world there is Hell,
• Doing food or bad all come from you,
• Wait not when Death’s near to know it’s true.

Cause & Effect

1. If a man is born handsome and a woman beautiful, it is because in the past, they practised hospitality and were charitable to others.
2. A person is rich but is revulsive and ugly; this is because in the past one was generous but easily lost one’s temper.
3. All the ill-omens and bad luck that we encounter in this life is a direct result of our past evil actions and thoughts.
4. Behaving proud and arrogant in the past life will result in being born despicable and lowly in this life.
5. If in this life one steals and robs without shame, and has never practised sharing and giving,…in one’s next life one will suffer from proverty.
6. If one has a jealous heart, despises others, criticises and scandaliszes practitioners of the Way,…in one’s next life, one will have poor, if any, affinities with others.
7. A selfish miser in the past life will come as a pauper in this life.
8. If in this life one controls anger, is free in giving lovingly serve others, repect even the ugly with equantimity…in one’s next life one will have a wholesome personality.
9. A person is good-looking but is looked-down upon; this is because in the past one had an accomodating heart and practise percepts, but had despised others.
10. If in this life one easily gets angry, has a hateful nature, despises others, is disrespectful to parents…in one’s next life one will have an ugly and revulsive personality.

The life of a Human Being exists within the process of one breath.

Voices Of Life

Often, I would listen to the story my heart whispering to me…….. Sometimes, life is like living in a lost world, waiting for some directions. Once in a while, there might be a darker side since the world is changing forever. Life is being created by the way we created it. As we continue to outgrow our old lives, often through; happiness, loss, sadness, disappointment, lies, tragedy, betrayal, we need larger, deeper and more compassionate stories to deal with new and unfamiliar contexts. This is just a time in history where life is being created.

Invent a new version of my life?

• When life is live with regrets …

When compromise has reached to a stage where it can be no longer compromised. When we take care of others we learn the art of sacrifice. Is it rain or tears that I see, crying on mankind for eternity. Just a simple man, who feels a little meeker.

Lies …

You can lie to your friends, You can lie to yourself.                                   But who do you lie with, Nobody else.                                                   You can live in a world of fantasy, But you never know the truth of reality.

Date:1-3 Apr 05 @ Asia Hotel

Bangkok is always a place SPOREAN will never be sicked of. This shall be my 4th trip to BK. The last trip that I went is for praying. As for this time, it is mainly organised by my sisters.

As usual, we will go to places where it is always frequent by tourists and locals. My younger sis planned for the iternary.

Took a lot of pictures, feel free to take a look –> Photo Albums

Date: 2-7 Sep 05-Shangri-La China World Hotel.

After my last visit to my father’s hometown (Fujian-FuZhou), which I believed was about 15 years ago? Since then, I never have a thought of going back to China.

Beijing’s trip was made partly because my sister was on a business trip. I decided to bring my Mom there. This savely minmize my budget.

We took SQ because it is safer and luckily it was having
"2 to go" promotion price. Each ticket costs around $800 (include airport tax).

The weater was nice and cooling through out our journey when we touched down in BJ. While we are there, I explore the shopping area intensively so that I can bring my sister around after she is off from work.

This trip to Beijing really changed my misconception of China’s people. I found that Beijing’s people are nice, honest, friendly and easy going. I have been telling people that Beijing is really a good place for holidaying, due to the fact of these reasons (1) People are wonderfully nice and friendly, (2) Good and cheap shopping paradise (3) Cheap food!!!

For shopping, the places that I have been:

(1) The Silk Market (Xiu Shui Jie) - Allows bargaining and usually you can bargain to half of the original price.

(2) WanFuJing Shopping Center - Sell Branded goods, expensive.

(3) Oriental Plaza Shopping Mall - Avg only.

(4) Xidan Commercial Street (named "2nd WangFuJing") - Budget and good to shop. We did our hair cut too.

As for eating, what you definitely can’t missed is the "Peking Roast Duck". There are few famous Roast Duck stalls:

(1) WanFuJing Roast Duck (2) QuanJuDe Roast Duck - Established in 1864 and is one of the oldest and most famous. (3) BianYiFang Roast Duck.

Despite just only shopping and eating, we also went to a few tourists attraction:

(1) Great Wall (BaDaLing) - Magnificent view. Marvellous at how these people construct the wall. The steps are very steep and uneven. Make it difficult for those seniors who have difficuties in walking.

(2) Forbidden City

(3) Summer Palace - Ci Xi Empress’s resting place.

THe above pictures are available at my Photo Album. Feel Free to take a look.

Date: 11-12, 14-16 Nov 04 @Ho Chi Min-RiverSide Hotel(3 stars)

13-14 Nov 04 @Da Lat-Novotel Hotel (5 stars)

Ho Chi Minh (Former Saigon)

Ho Chi Min-Saigon used to be under French Colonial. Most of the places are built according to french style. (HCM airport: Tan Son Nhat)

If you were to asked me if Saigon is a good place, I would say No.

I don’t really like Saigon, especially when I have a bad encountered with the people there.

There was one night when we walked past food stalls stationed along the road. We decided to rest our weary legs by having some local drinks. When our drinks are served, I asked how much. The stupid, idiotic, dirty OLD HAGGARD, full of wrinkle Vietnames old woman started to shout at us, insisting us to pay S$3 for a soft drink. I know that she is trying to cheat our money. So, I asked the table opposite us, also Vietnames. They knew that the stupid OLD HAGGARD woman is cheating on us, but they just keep quiet and gives a cunning smile! I am so angry that why these VIETNAMESE are of one kind.

Another bad experience with the VIETNEMESE is at Da Lat’s RESTAURANT!!!

The moment when we were there, the waiter seems friendly, chatty and humourous. He then comment that I look "pretty" (But he has a motive for saying that). After the dinner, we asked for the bill and found that it seems a bit expensive than expected. So, we checked on the items. We found that the waiter add in extra charge for the fruits that was on the house. And he overcalculated the total cost also. We told him and he quickly pretend he do not know and make the amendment. When we pay for the final bill, he still got the cheek to ask us for TIPS!!! This is so ridiculous. It is as good as a day light extortion!!! But we give him some since we don’t want to make things difficult. Upon taking the money, he sneekly took the money and put into his pocket, so as not to let the cashier or other waitress see it.

However, their dishonesty did not spoilt our trip as they are not worth for us to get angry. But I would definitely be wary of VIETNEMESE in future.

Da Lat

This is the Catholic church where we spend sometimes, admiring, exploring and praying.

Date: 13-15 May Kuta Beach (Kuta Beach Club Hotel), 15-17 May Nusa Dua Beach (Hilton Hotel)

Bali is a place where I never used to be looking forward to. But after this trip, it leaves behind some memories and was glad that I have made this trip. 

Kuta Beach - Kuta Beach Club Resort

Kuta Beach Club is an average hotel. It is small but yet reflects the olden days of a small wooden villa. Though the hotel is normal but we enjoy our days there as most of the time we are out at the Beach, shopping and eating.

Kuta Beach is blessed as it is with a lovely sweep of golden sand (Dark grey), crashing surf and spectacular sunsets. It is sparse, wide like an open field. The colour of the sea is so blue and green … The atmosphere gives us a friendly, relaxed and cheerful feeling.

Nusa Dua Beach - Hilton Hotel

We are on our 2nd journey from Kuta Beach to Nusa Dua Beach. We hop to a taxi along the side of the road. We decided to hire the driver for our next day trip to Jumaran- Ritz Carlton Hotel to capture the scenic view as claimed via Internet, then to Jumbaran Seafood Restaurants and to Ubud (Northern) to see the historic. The driver is an honest Indonesian Man (Malay). We are lucky to met him.

Nusa Dua Beach is a quiet place. It is a good place to relaxed. Away from the city life. There is nothing much to do except to lied on the Beach chairs, enjoy the sea breeze and sun taning. At night time, though it is very windy, the sea appears to be calm and peaceful.  It gives me the comfort, peace of surrounding where everyone seems to be drifted away from the busy, city life. Jimbaran - Ritz Carlton Hotel: We only managed to reach the top when it is about to sun set. But I am amazed by the magnificent view. It reflects the INFINITY POOL. We stay there for about 15 mins before we make our way to the Jimbaran Seafood Restaurant.

We are back to Hilton Hotel at around 11pm. It is a tiring day for us but was fruitful. I deeply enjoy this trip…

Date: 14-16 Apr-Koh Lanta (Twin Lotus Resort), 16-17 Apr-Ao Nang (La Playa Resort).

Krabi consists of a number of beaches, for this case, the 2 beaches that I will be going are Koh Lanta (Twin Lotus Resort - 5 stars) and Ao Nang Beach (La Playa Resort - 4 star).

Departure from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta:

Four of us (Anton - Jade, Eugene - Vivien) took a early flight (Tiger Airways) at 645am, leave SGP & reach Krabi Airport (845am).  We checked out of the Krabi aiport and proceed our Journey to Koh Lanta with the driver from Twin Lotus Resort.

Initially, I thought that the journey will be tiring cos of the following changing as below:

• From Krabi Airport à  Hou-Hin pier (1hr by Van) à  Klong Mark pier (abt 40 mins by Ferry) à Langsord pier (abt 20 mins by Van) à Saladan pier (abt 25 mins by Ferry) à Twin Lotus Resort (abt 10 mins by Van).

However, to our surprised, the duration was pretty fast and hassel free.Took only 2 hrs 30 mins.

Twin Lotus Resort & Spa Lanta, Krabi

The resort oversees the beach - so called the "Infinity Pool". It is quiet, peaceful and relaxing. We have the whole of the pool most of the time as the resort is so much less crowded. What makes it best is that we have got ourselves a very good catch for the packages. Baht 7,999 -3 Days 2 Nights, include daily AMB, 1 Dinner, Hotel transfer, Free use of sports facilities, 30 mins Spa treatment (Thanks to my Anton!)

The view is wonderful during the night. It is really magnificent view. But of course, with my professional photo-taking skill! :p

My stay at Twin Lotus is wonderful except for a minor bad experience.

****** I got stung by DAMN Jellyfish.

So angry, worried & frightened as I didnt know what has attacked me. It was after canoning with Anton, we just walked and enjoy the deep blue sea. Out of sudden, I got a sharp, pain, tinkling, burning sensation at my legs, feet, toes …. In actual fact, I didnt really know which part of my legs, feet, toes were attacked. I quickly came offshore and the next moment, the tickling pain becomes greater. I jumped into the infinity pool, hopping the water can wash away the burning sensation.

Then from Anton, I came to know that the "Bump-stung Marks" appear on my toes and feets are an indication of Jellyfish’s stung. It appears as a full straight rows of circle line … It looks horrible. I use my fingernails to press it hard, hoping the bumps will go away, which it really does. It ease the burning sensation and after few hrs later I am ok. Such a relieved as I was afraid that something might have happened. Furthermore, I am on a holiday trip, it will be troublesome for everyone if something bad happen…..

ANd Now, I know what is the cure for JellyFish’s stung. Use Vinegar !!! But for some extreme cases whereby the jellyfish is poisonous, it will caused a deadly effect on a person.

So my advise is, always be careful when you are out in the BIG , DEEP SEA.

Departure from Koh Lanta Beach to Ao Nang Beach:

Again, we have to go through the same route to go back to Krabi airport then to Ao Nang Beach. Ao Nang is only 30 mins away from the airport. However, the driver took us to Krabi town, gives some tips and we catch the "Bus" - similar of a lorry to reach our destination - La Playa Resort (Rate: S$79i nett per night, include AMF).